"DUCK IN A NOOSE" message explained

AP Fox News Story ^ | October 24, 2002 | AP on Fox News

[Jeff Head]

The last cryptic message from Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose to the Washington-area sniper referred to a Cherokee Indian story about an arrogant rabbit that was duped by the duck he tried to catch.

"You have indicated that you want us to do and say certain things. You've asked us to say, 'We have caught the sniper like a duck in a noose.' We understand that hearing us say this is important to you," Moose said late Wednesday at a televised news briefing, called so authorities could release information on two people sought for questioning in the 13 sniper shootings.

[Jeff Head]

I don't know. Seems like they would have known it could be a messages to others.

At the time they issued the statement, the warrant was already out.

I think the perp went to sleep in the vehicle and didn't hear all of the late night run-up. Otherwise he would have gotten away from the car and gone to ground.

[SerpentDove]

The Legend Of The Unwise Jackass

Once upon a time there was a jackass.
But he was very unwise.
The jackass shot people and left assorted clues: a tarot card, lengthy notes, demands for money.
Then, through the media, he sent out this stupid reference to some obscure Native American tale, in an effort to be "cryptic" in a half-assed cat-and-mouse game.

One day the jackass was arrested in his car sleeping in a rest area.

The lesson of this story is: what a stupid jackass.

[per loin]

Actually the first person to explain this was Ron Kuby on WABC this morning with Curtis Sliwa. He was WAY ahead of the TV stations, cable outlets and print media.

I posted that old Indian tale to FR at 9:04 PM (PDT) last night, and I believed somebody else had beaten me.

[Howlin]

I was going to be REAL impressed if I heard music! I never have figured out how to do that, except for these two!

This one

and

This one

[RAT Patrol]

Ladin = Nidal, as in Abu Nidal

[RAT Patrol]

LOL!

[FairOpinion]

"You have indicated that you want us to do and say certain things. You've asked us to say, 'We have caught the sniper like a duck in a noose.' We understand that hearing us say this is important to you,"

"In the ancient story, passed down through generations of Cherokee Indians, a rabbit brags that he can catch a duck. He throws a noose over the neck of a duck, but it flies away with the rabbit hanging on. Eventually the rabbit must let go, landing in a hollow tree stump. The conceited animal has to eat his own fur for food and is embarrassed by his appearance when he finally escapes."

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My take on this is NOT what the FoxNews explanation is, that the sniper is the rabbit. From the sniper's point of view, since he asked Moose to say those words, I think the sniper is taunting them/us, that the police is the rabbit and the sniper is the duck, i.e. the police may have caught him, but the final laugh will be his, just as the rabbit thought he caught the duck, but the duck flew away and the rabbit ended up in trouble. IMO this explanation makes more sense -- the sniper would not DEMAND that the police say something which would make fun of the sniper? I think the sniper's request actually would indicate that he indeed IS part of some Al Qaeda cell, or at least in touch with them, and was telling us, that we may have caught him, but much worse things are in store for us, as the rabbit thought he was victorious, initially.

[Jeff Head]

You'd be surprosed ... he may be well read.

Can't say. To come up with that wording by chance is more far fetched to me. He was being arrogant and saying that even if they did catch him, it would come back and haunt them ... he'd fly away.

Just my opinion.

[Tired of Taxes]

I did a Google right afterward, and, you're right, it showed "Ladin" with an "in". (I've also been having trouble with Al Qaeda/Quaeda/al-quaeda... lol... but I noticed the press has been having trouble with that one, too).

[twigs]

The thing that bothers me about this is that the sniper must know that the only time when Moose would say this in the media is after he is caught. That, plus his almost obsessive calls to get the attention of the police, would make me believe that his purpose here was to be caught so that the Chief would have the reason to repeat what he did via the media. So, regardless of where this imagery comes from, the sniper would have to be apprehended to expect the Chief to say it. Makes it sound like he was set up to get this message out. Terrorists are not above using each other to, uhm, "make sacrifices" to accomplish the goals of their co-religionists. But why?

[_Jim]

You've got to be kidding - right?

THIS sounds highly contrived to me.

Get real - a rabbit boasts about 'catching a duck'?

(I guess VERY few of you city slickers has EVER tried to catch or control such fowl via a 'noose' ...)

[Grut]

A rabbit? Rabbits don't eat ducks, do they? I thought they were herbivores.

American Indians were as one with their animal brothers and so only ate soy ducks.

[joesnuffy]

who hasnt

[jgrubbs]

I agree with this, that is why the sniper let himself get caught.

[joesnuffy]

because the reward is in the after life and not this one..

[knak]

That was exactly my thoughts on the matter.

[RoseofTexas]

Very good observation! I too thought it was strange Moose quoted that at the end of the news brief! I pray, though, that we are wrong!

[Jeff Head]

Talk to the Cherokee nation about it ... it's their legend, and is a valid one ... meaning they really have this legend.

How did this perp come up with it? I have no idea.

[RAT Patrol]

If he intended to get caught then the person who "found" him at the rest stop might have been in on it. What happened to that guy?

I find it curious that they were arrested so peacefully, being god and all.

[Prodigal Son]

(I guess VERY few of you city slickers has EVER tried to catch or control such fowl via a 'noose' ...)

Apparantly it's an old Cherokee story.